Allosteric stabilization of calcium and lipid binding engages three synaptotagmins in fast exocytosis

The release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic terminals is a strongly Ca2+-dependent process controlled by synaptotagmins, especially by their C2B domains. Biochemical measurements have reported Ca2+ affinities of synaptotagmin too low to account for synaptic function. However, binding of the C2B domain to the membrane phospholipid PI(4,5)P2 increases the Ca2+ affinity and vice versa, indicating a positive allosteric stabilization of simultaneous binding. Here, we construct a mathematical model of the release-triggering mechanism of synaptotagmin based on measured Ca2+/PI(4,5)P2 affinities and reported protein copy numbers. The model reproduced the kinetics of synaptic transmission observed at the calyx of Held over the full range of Ca2+ stimuli, with each C2B domain crosslinking Ca2+ and PI(4,5)P2 lowering the energy barrier for fusion by 4.85 kBT. The allosteric stabilization of simultaneous Ca2+ and PI(4,5)P2 binding was crucial to form multiple crosslinks which enabled fast fusion rates. Only three crosslinking C2B domains were needed to reproduce physiological responses, but high copy numbers per vesicle sped up the collision-limited formation of crosslinks. In silico evaluation of theoretical mutants revealed that affection of the allosteric properties might be a determinant of the severity of synaptotagmin mutations and may underlie dominant-negative, disease-causing effects. We conclude that allostericity is a crucial feature of synaptotagmin action.

Enantioenriched Positive Allosteric Modulators Display Distinct Pharmacology at the Dopamine D1 Receptor

(1) Background: Two first-in-class racemic dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) chemotypes (1 and 2) were identified from a high-throughput screen. In particular, due to its selectivity for the D1R and reported lack of intrinsic activity, compound 2 shows promise as a starting point toward the development of small molecule allosteric modulators to ameliorate the cognitive deficits associated with some neuropsychiatric disease states; (2) Methods: Herein, we describe the enantioenrichment of optical isomers of 2 using chiral auxiliaries derived from (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (d- and l-pantolactone, respectively); (3) Results: We confirm both the racemate and enantiomers of 2 are active and selective for the D1R, but that the respective stereoisomers show a significant difference in their affinity and magnitude of positive allosteric cooperativity with dopamine; (4) Conclusions: These data warrant further investigation of asymmetric syntheses of optically pure analogues of 2 for the development of D1R PAMs with superior allosteric properties.

Allosteric Enzyme-Based Biosensors—Kinetic Behaviours of Immobilised L-Lysine-α-Oxidase from Trichoderma viride: pH Influence and Allosteric Properties

The present study describes the kinetics of L-lysine-α-oxidase (LO) from Trichoderma viride immobilised by co-crosslinking onto the surface of a Pt electrode. The resulting amperometric biosensor was able to analyse L-lysine, thus permitting a simple but thorough study of the kinetics of the immobilised enzyme. The kinetic study evidenced that LO behaves in an allosteric fashion and that cooperativity is strongly pH-dependent. Not less important, experimental evidence shows that cooperativity is also dependent on substrate concentration at high pH and behaves as predicted by the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model for allosteric enzymes. According to this model, the existence of two different conformational states of the enzyme was postulated, which differ in Lys species landing on LO to form the enzyme–substrate complex. Considerations about the influence of the peculiar LO kinetics on biosensor operations and extracorporeal reactor devices will be discussed as well. Not less important, the present study also shows the effectiveness of using immobilised enzymes and amperometric biosensors not only for substrate analysis, but also as a convenient tool for enzyme kinetic studies.

Role of the I16-D194 ionic interaction in the trypsin fold

Activity in trypsin-like proteases is the result of proteolytic cleavage at R15 followed by an ionic interaction that ensues between the new N terminus of I16 and the side chain of the highly conserved D194. This mechanism of activation, first proposed by Huber and Bode, organizes the oxyanion hole and primary specificity pocket for substrate binding and catalysis. Using the clotting protease thrombin as a relevant model, we unravel contributions of the I16-D194 ionic interaction to Na+ binding, stability of the transition state and the allosteric E*-E equilibrium of the trypsin fold. The I16T mutation abolishes the I16-D194 interaction and compromises the architecture of the oxyanion hole. The D194A mutation also abrogates the I16-D194 interaction but, surprisingly, has no effect on the architecture of the oxyanion hole that remains intact through a new H-bond established between G43 and G193. In both mutants, loss of the I16-D194 ionic interaction compromises Na+ binding, reduces stability of the transition state, collapses the 215–217 segment into the primary specific pocket and abrogates the allosteric E*-E equilibrium in favor of a rigid conformation that binds ligand at the active site according to a simple lock-and-key mechanism. These findings refine the structural role of the I16-D194 ionic interaction in the Huber-Bode mechanism of activation and reveal a functional linkage with the allosteric properties of the trypsin fold like Na+ binding and the E*-E equilibrium.

The evolution of novel hemoglobin functions and physiological innovation

Chapter 7 explores the evolution of novel hemoglobin functions and physiological innovations. In the epic sweep of life’s history on Earth, globin proteins such as vertebrate hemoglobin were only recently co-opted for a respiratory function in circulatory O2 transport. Even after blood-O2 transport became an entrenched feature of vertebrate physiology, red blood cell hemoglobins evolved additional specializations of function in particular lineages. In some cases, like the Root effect of fish hemoglobins, these new functions represent key physiological innovations that have contributed to adaptive radiation. This chapter explores several case studies of how the evolution of novel allosteric properties have enhanced and expanded the physiological capacities of particular vertebrate groups, with an emphasis on teleost fishes and crocodilians.